Another Pin Set to Fall

Terry Sawchuk played his final season with the New York Rangers, managing one final shutout, his 103rd, during the 1969-70 campaign, two years before Martin Brodeur was born.

Sawchuk's mark remained untouched for 40 seasons, a remarkable length of time for any record in sports that isn't equivalent to Joe DiMaggio's apparently unbreakable 56-game hit streak.

Now Brodeur has tied Sawchuk's mark, and will pass it sometime in the coming weeks. The return of Jacques Lemaire to the Devils probably sealed the fate of Sawchuk's record, with the Devils once more becoming a lock-down, defence first-second-and-third team. Fittingly, Brodeur tied the record against Buffalo while facing only 22 shots.

But he made those 22 saves, and clearly there is an art to the shutout, an ability to maintain focus in games already won, an unwillingness to give even an inch to the game's best shooters.

The question is, how high will Brodeur now set the bar? With two more years to go on his current contract, it's pretty easy to see him getting up to 112 shutouts, maybe 115.

Would he retire then? Hard to see that. He loves the game too much, revels in the lifestyle, the pace, the competition. Morever, the Devils have no successor. They've never really bothered to develop one.

So maybe by the end of the day he plays four more seasons and gets to 120 shutouts. Possible, no?

To put that in perspective, 30-year-old Roberto Luongo currently has 48 shutouts. If Brodeur gets to 120, Luongo would have to average more than seven shutouts a season for the next decade just to catch the Devils goalie.

It could happen. But probably won't.

Brodeur owns the all-time wins record (575) and needs five more appearances to break Patrick Roy's mark for all-time appearances (1,029).

His strong play after a difficult season a year ago, which included a lengthy layoff due to a bicep injury and a stunning playoff ouster at the hands of Carolina, sets up what will be a fascinating scenario for Mike Babcock and Team Canada at the Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Brodeur, barring injury, will be in net for the Games opener against Norway on Feb. 16th. Luongo might get the second match against the Swiss, a country that beat Canada in Torino in '06.

The comes a game against the U.S., and then the quarterfinals on the 24th. So while it might in theory be reasonable to say Babcock should just go with the hot hand, there won't be time to figure out who that hot hand will be.

And let's say Brodeur falters on Feb. 21st against the U.S. Would it be practical to then turn to Luongo for all the marbles in the quarters?

And what about Marc-Andre Fleury, the Stanley Cup champion goalie?

Comments

[Ryanstrickland]

I don't envy the guy choosing the goalie. He's gonna get grilled if we lose.

[Johnnnny]

And what about Marc-Andre Fleury, the Stanley Cup champion goalie?

In a perfect world, he would be the starter, as he is the best Canadian goalie playing right now. But alas, he his third fiddle to a goalie that is more revered for making history than his play of late, and another goalie who is more overhyped than anyone else playing right now (including Ovechkin, and that is saying something!).

[nugentmania]

I understand your reasoning behind the argument that this record will eventually become untouchable, but it's flawed in the simple fact that you have to accept as one of it's premises that the game will not see a change like it did in the 1990's, and that's no guarantee with this administration. Remember, were still in the decade where two players (Iginla and St. Louis) won Art Ross trophies with less than 100 points. Players are bigger, rinks stay the same size, and nobody really seems to care about goalie equipment. If this league expands, it's not top-shelf talent that expands, it's fringe players who water-down the pool and obstruct better than they skate.

[Geoff Read]

I agree with Ryan Strickland - Fleury would be my starter - I'm not even sure Luongo would be my third stringer. But Brodeur's been very good this season and his track record is unparalleled. So any Brodeur/Fleury combination would be fine with me. Luongo has never won anything, and hasn't been very good so far this season.

[Johnnyk]

Quebec produces the world's best puckstoppers!

[other mark]

Johnnny... you are a morrrron. While I like Fluery, I don't think you need to slag Brodeur to prove your point. Brodeur has that track record for a reason and right now he's on his game. You make it sound like Fluery is head and shoulders above Brodeur. On what evidence? Yeah, I thought so. Spouting off about something you know nothing about.